Pessary



- 1 91mm v F. BLEY PESSARY My m 1933 Filed May 27 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l frzueni or- Fred El 31 M F. BLEY PESSARY July 11, 1933.

Filed May 2'7, .1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 event inalposition of the womb.

Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED TA J A ENT Fess ese'i L T Is' Application filed Ii/lay The invention relates to womb supporting devices or pessaries and more particularly -it relates to a device to be inserted into andw'vorn in the ivoinb to correct or ieinedyaiidto'pre- It'is well known to physicians, surgeons and many othersthat barrenness, 'pz'iifnful menstruation end other similar ills of'w'oineii are frequently the resultof nalposition or" the uterus. Pessaries orsiini'lar devices for correcting such inalposition by inserting the i 1. same into the womb through the vagina have been in use by physicians fora long time. The insertion of such device's'a's" heret fore constructed either requires afprelirninar'y dilation of the parts i'ollowed by insertion of the device or the use of force t'o insert'the device without dilation: Either niethodof insertion tends to lacerate the 'delicate-?n1ucons lining coat of the womb and also tends to strain the muscular coat'fsurr oi nding the inner inucous coat. In those cases wherein the womb is badly distorted or nialposition'ed, the insertion of a pessaryihavingsiilhc'ient rigidity to correct the nalpo'sitionproduces laceration and sutiicient strain ofthe-niuscular coat that the use of suchia correct'ivedevice is inadvisable. Afterfsuch devices have .beenin positionfor so1neti1n'e,"the'wall of the uterus closes in and removal of the'devic'e cm only be accomplishedby exerting forc teniling further to lacerate and strain the delicate inenibranesaud muscular-fibres. i

The invention provides a device which can be inserted into and removed from aiitef'us having any degree of 'Inalposition or Ideforniat'ion, merely by manipulating-thedevice in the saine inanner'that'a screwis threaded into or removed from a close fitting aperture and the objects ot-the invention include the provision of a device of the kind described which canbe inserted intoan'd removed from the uterus without lacerating the lining or straining the niuscular' coat, which permits unimpeded flow of the secretions; wh'ichcorrects' and prevents malpositlon of the uterus,

I which is sanitary and may be worn fo'r'anindefinite period, which provides a "support maintainingthe uterus in correct position,"

and which is sufliciently'resilient tob'ein- 1932 semi K0. 13599.; v

serted intoabadly deforined'uterus with the exertion of slight force and by reason of its flexibility adapts itselt 'tot'he configuration of the distorted organ, its resiliency producing aconstant pressureitending to gradually .correct fthe malformation without u'ry to the delicate fibres I" the'niuscular coatr I i Still 'another object of tlfe 'inventi'onis the provision of a device adapted'to 'c'orrect nialposition causing bzurenness and followii'ig m the. use'oif which pregnancy .is possible." i

Y A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of "thekind described which is simple," duiable, efficient and satis factory for its intended purpose.

To this end 'n'iy'inventionconsists in'the novel c ons'tru'ction, arrangement and combi-. "nation of parts herein shown "z'ind descrihe'd,

' and more particularly pointed out "in the clainisi. 7 '70 I In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding V, V i., il Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevational view of a'device 'enibodyiili'g the prin'ciplesof the invention; .I r t s Fig. 2 i s an end view 'ofthe device in Fig.1; I

' :Fig. 3is a view partly in section of amodifi ed-"termini" tne device shown "Figs: 1' and 5;:1' Fig. 4 .is a partial sectional view of'an alternativeeinbodiinent of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is view alongthef,1line5 -5"of "Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the device iiicludesanoblong ineniber 10 comprising a substantially conical end portion 11 anda convergent "substantially frustro-conical end portionlQ; The o o'lonjg" member 10 is formed ii-011m filainent or" wire "13 er any suitable flexibleniaterial arranged a'sa 'co'iledfspiral, the spirals 'all preferably "havingfan;equal pitc'h; f: 1

An annular disc"shaped ineinber l 'iis mounted on; the open end of the frustro-c'onifcalndlQj' Theeute'r edge of the ineiii'ber 14: is turned to provide a smooth closed riin 15. A di a'inetrical'ly' extending cross 'inein- (ber 16 connects the foppo'site'si'des ofth e'disc shown 14 and provides means for mounting the disc member 14 on the open end of the frustroconical portion 12. .The filament 13 may be fastened to the member .16 in any desired manner and in the drawings is shown as secured by the use of soldering or welding material 17 in sufficient quantity to provide a rigid connection. The disc 14 is concave on the side adjacent the spiral to provide a seat for the end of the cervix when the device is in position as a support for the uterus.

The .member 16 bisects the opening 19 in the disc 14 and is sufiiciently narrow that the interior open space 20 of the member 10 is in registry with the aperture 19 on each side of the member thereby permitting unimpeded flow of secretions out of the member 10 on each side of the member 16.

Any suitable non-corrosive material inert to the secretionsmay be used for the member 10 and the disc 14 and also for soldering or fastening means for the disc and the member. White gold has been found in practice to be satisfactory material for the spiral and the disc.

The outer end 18 of the filament 13is inturned so that the apex of the conical portion 11 is smooth and acts as an entering -Wedge by the exertion of slight force in the smooth possibility of laceration is avoided upon insertion of the member 10. Material having a moderate degree of flexibility may be used in forming the filament 13 and as a result the member 10 will yield a substantial amount and adapt itself to the shape of removed from the uterus by rotating the disc member 14 by means of any suitable instrument engaging the member 16. The tapering of the conical portion 11 is gradual and obviously the insertion by threading is accom plished without any laceration of the delicate mucous lining or of any undue distortion producing strains in the muscular coat.

Theuse of suitable non-corrosive materials adapts the device to be safely left in position indefinitely or until the malposition is corrected. The delicate mucous lining. of the cervix closes in around the frustro-conical portion 12 of the device and thereby forms. a spiralled socket cooperating with the device which prevents any possibility of accidental displacement Regardless of the length of time the device mayhave been in position, it

is easily removed by revolving the disc member 14in a direction opposite to that necessary for insertion. The equal pitch of the spirals enables the removal to'be accomplished without any possibility of laceration of the membranes which have closed in about the frustroconical portion 12, since the divergence of the latter is gradual and the filament 13 follows the spiralled cooperating membraneous socket. I

V A modified form of the invention is shown in F 3 which is adapted for straightening a uterus in which the malposition is not excessive and for maintalning the uterus in correct position after 1t has been straightened in the same manner as described for the device as shown in Fig. 1 and is also adapted n for preventing malposition of a normal memher. The modified form differs from the form shown in Fig. 1 by the provision of diagonally extending brace members 21 which are welded or similarly. fastened at intervals to the filament on opposite sides and imparts substantial rigidity to the otherwise flexible device. 7

Either of the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 3 .tween the coils throughout the entire length of the member 10 and hence may be left in position for an indefinite length of time without inconvenience or interference with normal'or periodic fiow of secretions. a

' An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 4 as comprising an an.- nular disc 22, preferably of spherical configuration, and an oblong member 23 comprising a substantially conical end portion 24 and a substantially frusto-conical end portion 25, the latter being preferably integrally formed with the .disc 22. The large end of r the. conical portion 24 is offset to provide a shoulder 29 and a projecting stem 28 which is threaded into the adjacent end of the frusto-conical portion25 with the end of the latter in close contact with the shoulder.

Theouter periphery of the conical section 24 provides a spiralled corrugation 26 of uni- 5 formpitch terminating at the apex and the frusto-conical portion 25 provides a spiralled corrugation 27 of the same uniform pitch, preferably though not necessarily extending its full length. The corrugations 26 and '27 unite at the shoulder 29 to form a smooth continuous spiralled. corrugation of the same pitch as the corrugations 26 and 27 The resulting continuous spiralled corrugation enables the device to be threaded into and removed from position in the same manner as described for the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The interior of the sections 24 and 25 provide a chamber 30 closed at the conical end and opening through the disc .22. A. plurality of apertures 31 extend through the wall of the frusto-conical section 25 near its junction point with the conical portion 24.

The-conical'portion 24 also provides-a-plupermit unimpeded flow of the secretions be rality of apertures or openings 32 which together with the openings 31 permit the normal secretions to enter the chamber 30 and escape through the disc'22; Any suitable non-corrosive material which is unaffected by the secretions may be used in the construc tion of the alternative embodiment.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a novel device of the kind described having resiliency adapting it for insertion into a badly deformed or malpositioned member without straining or lacerating the member and which by reason of its resiliency tends to rectify the member; and further the invention provides means for both correcting malposition and for maintaining the uterus in correct position, the construction being such that the device may be inserted and removed by a threading or twisting operation without exerting force longitudinally of the member and thereby avoiding possibility of lacerating the membranes or straining the muscular walls thereof.

' Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; ience, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. As an improved article of manufacture,

the herein described instrument for use as a womb rectifier and support; the same cor prising a filament of flexible material providing a spiral arranged to form the wall of an'oblong hollow member having one end substantially conical in shape and the other end open, and an annular disc mounted on the open end of said member with its apertured portion in registry with the open'end of said member.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein described instrument for use as a I provide a seat for the cervix.

womb rectifier and support; the same comprising a filament of flexible material providing a spiral of uniform pitch arranged to form the wall of-an oblong member having one end substantially conical in shape and the other end open, said other end of the cone converging towardsits open end, and an annular disc mounted von the frustro-conical 0nd of said member with its apertured portion in registry with the open end of said member. 1 7 p i 3. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein described instrument for use as a womb rectifier and support; the same comprising a filament of flexible material providinga: spiral arranged to form the Wall of an oblono' hollow member having one end substantially conical in shape and the other end open, and an annular disc mounted on the open end of said member with its apertured'portion in registry with the open end ridiu spiral of uniform pitch arranged to form the wall of an oblong member havlng one end substantially conical in shape, and the other end open, said other end of the member taking the form of a frustrumv of a cone converging towards its open end, and an annular disc'mounted on the frustroconical end ofsaid member with its apertured portion in registry with the open end of said nomber, the face of saiddisc on the. sideadjacent the spiral being concave to In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 25th day of May A. D., 1932.

FRED BLEY.

member taking the form of a frustrum of a- 

